Machine for operating on fastenings



Nov. zo, 1923.'4 1,474,368

l A. EJERRAM MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON FASTENINGS Filed Dec. .18', 1919 2 sheets-sheet 1 mgl '45 55 MN5/V70@ Nov. 20 1923. K 1,474,368

. A. E. JERRAM MACHINE FOR yOPERATING ON FAVSTENINGS Filed Dec. 18, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I EN Il Patented Nov. 20, 19Z3 narran stares EAVTEWQFFQE.

ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAIvI, 0F BEIGE-STER, ENGLAND, ASSGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, 0F PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE IEORv OPERATING 0N FASTENINGS.

Application filed December 18. 1919.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known thatl l, An'rrrnn E. dannata, a subjecty of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Operating on Fastenings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for operating on fastenings. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is designed particularly for use in machines for inserting previously formed fastenings comprising a slotted raceway for conducting the fastenings to the fastening inserting instrumental ities of the machine` and will be hereinH after described, by way of example, as applied to a machine intended to insert loose nails and constructed as shown in the patent to Goddu, No. 898,573, granted Sept. i5, 1908.

Machines of the type disclosed in such patent commonly comprise covers for the slots of the raceway which serve to confine the nails in the raceway and which preferably extend close to its delivery end so as to prevent the nails from being improperly ejected from the slots by the mechanism which controls the delivery of the nails from the raceway. It is frequently necessary that the covers be removed from over the racewayslots in order to expose the nails to enable the-operator to effect dislodgment of a jammed nail or other impediment to the free movement of the nails down the raceway. It is, moreover, sometimes desirable to adjust the covers in order to accommodate them to nails having heads of different sizes.

It is an object of this invention to provide cover mechanism for the raceways of machines for operating on fastenings which will be mounted for convenient removal from operative position over the raceway to expose the row of fastenings in the slot oi' the raceway. The invention further contemplates securing this result by so connecting the cover to the raceway as to insure that it will be moved from operative to inoperative position on the raceway without Serial N'o. 345,764.

interference` with the operation of any of the parts of the machine including the mechanism which controls the delivery of fastening from the raceway and without disturbance of any previous careful adjustment of the cover relatively to the raceway.

To this end, an important feature of the y preferably first endwise and then trans versely of the raceway.

vAnother important feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for adjustably supporting the raceway cover and connections intermediate between the cover and its supporting means constructed to permit bodily movement of the cover relatively to the supporting means between operative and inoperative positions without affecting the adjustment of the cover by the supporting means. Preferably, the cover is mounted for pivotal movement transversely of the vertical plane of the raceway on a shaft disposed below the upper vside of the raceway, and is normally maintained in operative position by means constructed and arranged to permit the cover to be swung freely to inoperative position upon endwise movement of the cover. This construction enables the row of fastenings in the slot of the raceway to be exposed without disconnecting the cover from the raceway, thus obviating the possibility of the cover being mislaid or lost and facilitating the restoration of the cover to operative position when removed therefrom.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision with a raceway having a plurality of slots, of covers for each of said slots, and means for mounting the covers for movement on the raceway between operative and inoperative positions constructed to permit movement of certain of the covers to inoperative position to expose the fasten,- ings in one of said slots without affecting the relation of another of said covers to the corresponding slot of the raceway. As will appear more clearly as the description proceeds, the illustrated raceway is provided with inner and outer slots, and the covers therefor are mounted respectively on the outer and inner walls of the raceway.

Although the invention will be hereinafter described as applied to a machine 'for inserting previously formed fastenings ot' the type comprising a double raceway, that is, a raceway having a pair ot slots, it is recognized that the applicability of the invention is not restricted thereto but that the invention may be used with machines of other kinds lor operating on fastenings including fastening insertingmachines having raceken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the inner side of the raceway;

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in cross section along the line 5-5 ot Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

ln the illustrated exemplication of the invention, the nail driving mechanism comprises aY throat 2 having openings through which pass the awl 4 and driver 6 carried bv the awl bar 8 and driver bar 10 respectively. The driver 6 is reciprocated in the nail receiving passage 12 of a driver guide 14 by suitable means (not shown). Nails are conducted to the passage 12 of the guide 14 by a raceway 16 having an outer slot 18 and an inner slot 20 to which the nails are supplied by hoppers 22 and 24 respectively. As shown, the raceway 16 is fulcrumed at 26 to the frame supporting the hoppers 22 and 24 in order to enable it to be swung so vils to aline either the outer slot 18 or the inner slot 2O with the passage 12. Nails are successively delivered vtrom either the slot 18V or the slot 20 when in nail delivering position relatively to the passage 12 by a separator 32 carried by a separator lever 34, see Figs. 1 and 2. `When the outer slot 18, see Fig. 2, is in position to deliver nails to the passage 12, the nails in the inner slot 2O are prevented from escaping therefrom by the separator 32. When, on the other hand, the inner slot 2O is alined ywith the nail receiving passage 12, escape of nails from the outravaees er slot 18 is precluded by the retainer 35 carried by the driver guide 14.

ln order to confine the rows of nails in the slots 18 and 20 of the raceway 16, it is provided with covers 36 and 38 which prelierably Xtend, when in operative position, to a. point closely adjacent to the lower end of the raceway so as to prevent nails from being thrown upwardly from the raceway when they are engaged by the separator 32. Preferably, also, and as shown in Fig. 1., the lower ends ol the covers are curved to cor* respond with the contour of the upper suriiace of the raceway 16. As clearly appears from Fig. 1, the raceway covers 36 and 38 cannot be moved from operative position by transverse movement of the raceway covers relatively to t-he raceway by reason of the fact that the lower ends of the covers extend beyond the Jfastening retainer and separator lever 34, as well as the upper overhanging portion of the driver guide 14. Moreover, it would not be practical to eX- pose the nails at the lower end of the raceway by endwise movement of the covers only, since to do so would necessitate leaving the upper portions of the slots ot the raceway uncovered for a considerable distance andwould further require manipulation of the cover through a long range of movement. ln order, therefore, to provide for the convenient movement ot' the cover 36 from operative to inoperative position and. at the same time, to insure that the cover shall not interfere with the operation of the retainer 35, means are provided for` coupling the cover 36 to the raceway for a compound movement relatively thereto, first endwise and then transversely of the raceway to expose the nails in the slot 18. To this end. a bracket 40 is attached to the outer side of the raceway and is formed Vwith upwardly extending lugs 42 and 44 through which passes a shaft 46. A pin 48 seated in the lug 44 secures theshai't 46 iX- edly to the bracket 40. The cover 36 which, as shown, is formed as a plate of substantially uniform thickness throughout is provided with lugs 50 and 52 mounted slidably on thershai't 46. Said shaft is preferably extended beyond the lug 42k of the bracket 40, and the lug 50 of the cover 36 is disposed rearwardly of the lug 42 so as to slide on the extension ofthe shaft. A spring 54 surrounding the 'shaft 46 between the lug 42 of the bracket 40 andthe lug 52 of the cover 36 normally retains the cover in operative position relatively to the raceway, such position being determined by a tapered projection 56 on the lug 52 received in a recess or" the lug 44. rIhe projection 56 further secures the cover 36 in operative position but manifestly permits the cover to be swung to inoperative position a'ter it has been moved rearwardly against the resistance of the spring 54 far enough to withdraw the projection 56 from the lug 44. The spring 54 automatically moves the cover to operative position when it is swung toward the raceway.

The cover 36 may be adjusted relativelyI to the raceway to accommodate it to nails having heads of different sizes by changing the position of the bracket 40 on the raceway. As shown7 the bracket 40, adjacent to its rear end, is formed with an elongated slot 58 which receives an eccentric 60 loosely mounted on a stud shaft 62 threaded into the outer side of the raceway 16. The eccentric is preferably provided with a handle 64 to facilitate its rotation on the stud shaft 62 to raise or lower the bracket 40 and is locked in adjusted position by a handle nut 66. Adjacent to its forward end, the bracket 40 has an opening adapted to receive an eccentric 68 carried by a stud shaft 70, also threaded into the outer wall of the raceway. The eccentric 68 is preferably, and as shown, provided with a handle 69 to enable it to be readily manipulated and is retained in adjusted position by a set nut 72. With this construction, it is manifest that, by manipulation of the eccentrics 60 and 68. the bracket40 and consequently the cover 36 carried thereby may be adjusted relatively to the raceway 16 and that either end of the cover may be adjusted independently of the other. It is further apparent that thel movements of the cover 36 on the shaft 46 between operative and inoperative positions do not affect the adjustment of the cover. liicreover, the removal of the cover to inoperative position without disconnecting it from the raceway insures that the cover will not be mislaid or lost and greatly facilitates i ts restoration to operative position.

The means for supporting the cover 38 for the inner slot 20 of the raceway is, in n'iany respects. similar to that described and comprises a shaft 7 5 passing through lugs 76 and 78 on the cover 38 and supported in lugs 80 and 82 formed on a bracket 83 attached to the inner side of the raceway by means hereinafter to be described. The shaft 75 is secured against movement relatively to the bracket 83 by a pin 84 seated in the lug 82 of the bracket. A spring 86 on the shaft 75 between the lug 78 of the cover 38 and the lug 80 of the bracket 83 tends normally to retain the cover 38 in operative position on the raceway, such position of the cover being determinedl by a tapered projection 88 on the lug 78 received in recess of the lug 82.

Manifestly, the cover 38, if swung back from the raceway 16 after endwise movement of the 'cover sufhcient only to disengage the projection 88 from the lug 82, would be likely to engage the separator 'lever 34 or to be struck by said lever in its voperative ycover 38 relatively to the raceway.

movements. In order to insure that the cover 38 shall not be interposed in the path of movement of the lseparator lever, a plate 89 is secured to the lug 78 of the cover by a clamp screw 90 and is disposed to en*` gage a projection 92 on the lug 82 upon movement of the cover 38 transversely of the raceway. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, a small space is left between the edge of the plate 88 and the face of the projection 92, thus allowing the cover to be raised an amount sutlicientto clear the heads of the fastenings in the raceway. If however, it is desired to move the cover 38 fully to inoperative position, it must first be moved lengthwise on the shaft 75 until the plate 89 is clear of the projection 92, such lengthwise movement of the cover being suiiicient to insure that the end of the cover, when swung back, will be clear of the separator lever 34.

The bracket 83, together with the cover 38. is adjusted relatively to the raceway at its forward end by two thumb screws 94 and 96 screwed into the under side of the bracket 83 and having rounded ends which enter a circular recess 98 in the bracket 83 and are disposed to bear against faces 100, 102 on "an eccentric 104 having a bearing in the circular recess 98 of the bracket 83 and having ofset from itsY center a pin 106 journaled in the innerwall of the raceway. If the thumb screw 94 is retracted and the thumb screw 96 advanced the eccentric 104 will be turned about the pin 106 in a direction to raise the bracket 83 and with it the lf, on the other hand, the thumb screw 96 is retracted and the thumb screw'94 advanced. the-eccentric 104 will be turned in the bearing of the bracket 83 in a direction to 'cause the bracket 83 and the cover 38 to be lowered` The rear end of the bracket 83 is adjusted by an eccentric 108 rotatably mounted on a studV 110 fixed in the inner wall of the raceway. The eccentric 108 is received in a. slot 112 formed in the bracket and is rotated by a handle 114. rThe bracket is locked in adjusted position by a hand nut 116 threaded on the stud 110, thus serving to clamp the bracket and the eccentric to the raceway.

The ball end of the link 118 by which threraceway 16 is shifted toY aline the slot 18 or 20 with the fastening receiving passage 12 of the driver guide 14, is seated in .i spherical "recess 120 formed half inl thc bracket 83 and half in a' cap 122 secured to the bracket bya bolt 124 and nut 126. A clamp screw 128 threaded into the raceway holds the bracket 83 in adjusted position at its forward end and also holds the cap 122 in position. The screw 128 passes through a slot 130 formed in the cap and bracket toallow" for theadjustment ofthe cover.A

Having thus described my invention.I what I claim as new andk desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raccway mounted to tip away from the raceway to uncover the latter, and means for coupling the raceway and the cover, constructed and arranged to constrain the raceway and the cover to move relatively by a compound movement in uncovering the raceway.

2. In machine of the class described, the combination or' a raceway, a cover for the raceway mounted to tip away from the raceway to uncover the latter, and means for coupling the cover to the raceway, constructed and arranged to constrain the cover to move first in one direction and then in another relatively to the raceway in uncovering` the raceway.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway mounted to tip awav from the race way to uncover the latter, means for mounting the cover on the raceway for movement between operative and inoperative positions, and means for securing the cover in operative position, constructed and arranged to constrain the cover to move relatively to the raceway by a compound movement in uncovering the raceway.

t. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means comprising a pivot extending parallel with the raceway for mounting the cover on the raceway for movement between operative and inoperative positions, and means for securing the cover in operative position, constructed and arranged to provide for movement of the cover to inoperative position only upon manipulation ot the cover in both directions endwise of the raceway and transverse to the raceway.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means comprising a pivot se cured to one side of the raceway for mounting the cover on the raceway for movement transversely of the raceway, and means for constraining the cover against such movement constructed to be rendered operative or inoperative by endwise movement of the cover. y

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means for mounting the cover on the raceway for tipping movement in a direction toward and from the raceway, and means for automatically moving the cover in another direction to operative position upon tipping movement of the cover toward the raceway.

7. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for the raceway., means for mountino the cover for bodil tia in@` movement toward and from the vertical plane of the raceway about a pivot spaced from the plane ot' the upper surface of the raceway and latching means mounted on the cover for securing the cover in fixed relation to the raceway.

9. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover movable on the raceway between operative and inoperative positions, and means comprising a latch movable with the coverand operable thereby l'or securing the latter in operative relation to the race- ,vay.

l0. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for. the raceway, and latching means movable with and controlled by the cover for securing the cover in operative relation to the raceway.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway, a spring for moving the cover endwise of the raceway, and means controlled by said spring for e'liiecting the latching operation by which the cover is secured in operative relation to the raceway.

l2. In a machine oit' the class described, the combination of a raceWay, a cover for the raceway, yielding means normally tending to move the cover endwise of the raceway, and means controlled by the yielding means -for effecting the latching operation by which the cover is secured in operative relation to the raceway, constructed and arranged to permit movement of the cover vaway from the raceway upon movement of the cover against the resistance of said yielding means.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the racewav mounted for tipping movement transversely toward Vand away from the vertical plane of the raceway, and spring controlled means for securing the cover in operative relation to the raceway, said means being operative to hold the cover lixedly against tipping movement directly away from the raceway.

k14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means for pivotally supporting the cover at a point spaced from the plane of the upper side of the raceway, and means movable with'the cover for securing the cover against pivotal movement while in operative relation to the. raceway, constructed and arranged to provide 4for an-v other movement ci the coverV to inoperative position by manipulation solely ofthe cover relatively to saidsupporting means.

l5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the racewa acover for the raceway, ashart upon which the cover is loosely'pivoted, a spring parallel with said shai't and operable to move the cover endwise orP the raceway,` and means controlled by said spring for securing the cover in operative relation to the raceway. .i

16. ln a machine of ythe class described, the combination of a ravceway, a cover for the raceway, means for adjustably supporting. both ends of the cover, andconnections intermediate between both endslof the cover and vthe supportingmeans, constructed to permit bodily movement of the cover relatively to the supporting means between operative andfinoperative positions without affecting the adjustment of the cover by the supporting means.

17. in a machine of the class described, the combination oi a raceway, acover for the raceway, means for adjusting the ends of the cover independently, and means for mounting both ends of the cover for movement relatively to said adjusting i means between operative and inoperative positions on said'raceway. V

18. n a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for .the raceway, means for adjustably supporting the cover tor movement transversely of the vertical plane of the raceway, and means intermediate between the cover and the supporting means for securing the cover normally in operative relation to the raceway, said securing means being constructed and arranged to permit movement oit the cover between operative and inoperative positions without adecting the adjustment of the cover by the supporting means.

19. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means oradjustably supporting the cover, and means intermediate between the cover and the supporting means for securing the cover in operative relation' to the raceway, -said securing means being constructed and arranged to be released and rendered inoperative by movement of the cover thereby to enable the cover to be moved to inoperative position by manipulation of the cover only. j

20. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway, acover for the raceway, means for adjustably supporting the cover, a shaft carried by said means, a spring on said shaft, and means controlled by said spring for securing the cover in operative relation to the raceway, constructed and arranged to permit movement of the cover to inoperative position upon endwise movement of the cover` relatively to the raceway. and said shaft.

Y 21. lin a.' machine-ot the class described,

the. combination of a raceway, a cover'for theraceway, a bracket for supporting the cover, having a slot adjacent to one or' its ends and an opening adjacent to its other end, and means for adjusting the braclret on the" raceway comprising an eccentric adaptedl tiobe received in said slot and an eccentric received in said opening and substantially oi another otrsaid covers to its correspondingv raceway.

ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of raceways having one side member in common, covers for said raceways arranged'to extend to the delivery ends the1eoi",n1eans oradjustably supporting said covers with relation Yto the raceways, and connections between the covers and their supporting means constructed and arranged to permit movement of one of said covers to inoperative position without aecting the position or adjustment of other of said covers.

24. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of raceways having one side member in common, a cover pivoted on one side of one of the raceways and adapted to overlie the astenings in said raceway, a second cover adapted to overlie the astenings in thel other raceway and pivoted on a side 01": the raceway independently of the rst-mentioned cover, the covers being arranged to be extended to the deliveryends of the raceways and somounted thateither of said covers may be moved to inoperative position without affecting the position of the other of said covers.

25. ri a machine of the class described, the combination of araceway, a cover for the raceway, means-for securing the cover in operative relation tothe raceway, constructed and arranged to provide for movement of the cover to inoperative position upon endwise movement of thecover, and means separate from the securing means and carried by the raoeway for controlling the movement oit' the vcover to inoperative position. f

26. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means for pivotally supporting said cover, cornprising a lug extending therefrom, means carried by said lug for normally securing theV cover in operative relation to the raceway, and means for preventing pivotal movement of the cover comprising a member carried by said iug.

27. In a machine lof the class described, a raceway, a cover for the raceway, a bracket f'or supporting said cover, and connections between the cover and the bracket compri-s-v `ing lugs carried by the bracket and cover respectively, means on said lugs for normally securing the cover in operative relation to the raceway, and means intermediate between said iugs and separate from the securing means `for normally preventing transverse n'rovement of the cover relatively to the raceway.

28.`In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for the raceway, means comprising a latch for securing the cover in operative relation to the raceway constructed and arranged to be unlatched by relative movement or the cover and raceway, and means separate from said securing means for preventing movement of the cove-r away from the raceway.

29'. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for the raceway, a bracket Vfor supporting said cover, an eccentric for adjustably supporting tlie bracket at one end, screvs for adjusting said eccentric to inverses! determine thepositionl ofthe bracket on the raceway, and 'means separate from said eccentric for adjusting the 'other end of the.

termine the position of the'cover relatively to the raceway.

3l. In a machineof the class described, fastening inserting means, a raceway, a separator 4for delivering fastenings from the raceway tothe fastening inserting lmeans, means for operating the separator, a cover for the raceway normally extending substantially to the lower end of the raceway and into the projected path of movement of the separator, means -or mounting said cover for movement toward and from the raceway laterally of the vertcalplane of the raeevvay, and means for preventing movement of the cover from the raceway except when ksaid cover is so disposed as to clear theseparator and its operating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication.

ARTHUR vERNEST J ERRAM. 

